essay
State and society at Teotihuacan, Mexico
Annual review of anthropology • 26 • Published In 1997 • Pages: 129-161
By: Cowgill, George L.
Abstract
Between 100 BCE [before the Christian era] and 200 CE [after the Christian era], the city of Teotihuacan grew rapidly, most of the Basin of Mexico population was relocated in the city, immense civic-religious structures were built, and symbolic and material evidence shows the early importance of war. Rulers were probably able and powerful. Subsequently, the city did not grow, and government may have become more collective, with significant constraints on rulers' powers. A state religion centered on war and fertility deities presumably served elite interest, but civic consciousness may also have been encouraged. A female goddess was important but probably not as pervasive as has been suggested. Political control probably did not extend beyond central Mexico, except perhaps for some outposts, and the scale and significance of commerce are unclear. Teotihuacan's prestige, however, spread widely in Mesoamerica, manifested especially in symbols of sacred war, used for their own ends by local elites (p. 129). This document presents a concise summary of the various cultural aspects noted above.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2010
- Region
- Middle America and the Caribbean
- Sub Region
- Central Mexico
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Archaeologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle; 2009
- Field Date
- 1988-1993
- Coverage Date
- 2100-1300 BP (100 BC-AD 700)
- Coverage Place
- Teotihuacán, Valley of Mexico
- Notes
- George L. Cowgill
- ncludes bibliographical references (p. 304-317)
- LCCN
- 720821360
- LCSH
- Mexico--Antiquities